While Lloyd's retelling the story of his world's origins--no pun intended, he laughs softly. Or maybe yes, who knows--Zelos keeps his gaze trained up on the stars and the stars only, eyes fixed on the Zohar cluster as he learns of its mirror in Lloyd's parallel, backwards version of Aselia. It almost beckons him with its glow, titillating above as Lloyd speaks of spirits and gifts. Huh. Somewhere in the distance he hears the fire's crackle weakening, and with a quick flick of his wrist Zelos reignites the flame to keep the others warm, mind absent from the motion as he thinks.
Zelos thinks of another Aselia, the one where Lloyd and Sheena call home, and the many gods it houses within its atmosphere. Tries to picture its geography, its heavens, its systems. He wonders where their versions of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla are, or even if they exist at all. If they're at war or at peace, or if they're, Architect forbid, maybe allies, ridiculous as it may sound. If humans are any different there from here. Wonders if there's a connection between mana and ether, wonders about the stone on Lloyd's hand. Thinks, quietly, about this parallel reflection of his own world, and wonders if there's a Lloyd and Sheena in this side of the mirror as well.
Thinks of a memory he shouldn't have. Of blood on a green glass floor. Of his own laughter ringing out of the mouth of another man. And with laughter echoing in his ears, slowly, without even noticing it, Zelos tenses.
There's... clearly a lot more differences between both Aselias than just the cultures in charge of fabricating myths and legends about the stars, huh.
Ha ha.
"Nah, no summon spirits or anything fancy on this side," Zelos laughs again, a darkened sound as he allows himself to fall back on the boulder, resting against it. He sets his arms lazily over his stomach, feeling much more relaxed than he probably has any right to, and keeps his expression blank even as he shrugs. "Just a lousy god called The Architect whom no one but the original Aegises have even seen in the many years of Aselia's existence," he then adds.
He breathes. Once, twice. The purple-teal-green glow of the Zohar cluster above is already burning itself into Zelos' violet eyes despite his attempts to tear them off cluster, so mesmerized as he is about them and Lloyd's tale. Because, duality sure is a funny thing, isn't it? Zohar cluster in one world, Origin cluster in another. A gathering of godlike light with a deep meaning tied to the creation of Aselia in one world, a simple belt of stars shining down on Aselia in another. Meaningful there, meaningless here.
Dies, died, will die.
Lives, lived, will live.
Zelos thinks he kind of understands, now.
A smile spreads on his face, something amused and accompanied by a little chuckle. Finally, with great effort, violet eyes leave the cluster and turn to look at Lloyd instead, making direct eye contact. Even in the darkness, red on green fills his vision. It makes Zelos grin. "Funny, ain't it?" he asks, light, jokey. "If our stars have completely different stories attached, I think I'm kind of afraid to find out just what else is different, now!"
HE GOT HEAVY ON MAIN AGAIN
Zelos thinks of another Aselia, the one where Lloyd and Sheena call home, and the many gods it houses within its atmosphere. Tries to picture its geography, its heavens, its systems. He wonders where their versions of Sylvarant and Tethe'alla are, or even if they exist at all. If they're at war or at peace, or if they're, Architect forbid, maybe allies, ridiculous as it may sound. If humans are any different there from here. Wonders if there's a connection between mana and ether, wonders about the stone on Lloyd's hand. Thinks, quietly, about this parallel reflection of his own world, and wonders if there's a Lloyd and Sheena in this side of the mirror as well.
Thinks of a memory he shouldn't have. Of blood on a green glass floor. Of his own laughter ringing out of the mouth of another man. And with laughter echoing in his ears, slowly, without even noticing it, Zelos tenses.
There's... clearly a lot more differences between both Aselias than just the cultures in charge of fabricating myths and legends about the stars, huh.
"Nah, no summon spirits or anything fancy on this side," Zelos laughs again, a darkened sound as he allows himself to fall back on the boulder, resting against it. He sets his arms lazily over his stomach, feeling much more relaxed than he probably has any right to, and keeps his expression blank even as he shrugs. "Just a lousy god called The Architect whom no one but the original Aegises have even seen in the many years of Aselia's existence," he then adds.
He breathes. Once, twice. The purple-teal-green glow of the Zohar cluster above is already burning itself into Zelos' violet eyes despite his attempts to tear them off cluster, so mesmerized as he is about them and Lloyd's tale. Because, duality sure is a funny thing, isn't it? Zohar cluster in one world, Origin cluster in another. A gathering of godlike light with a deep meaning tied to the creation of Aselia in one world, a simple belt of stars shining down on Aselia in another. Meaningful there, meaningless here.
Dies, died, will die.
Lives, lived, will live.
Zelos thinks he kind of understands, now.
A smile spreads on his face, something amused and accompanied by a little chuckle. Finally, with great effort, violet eyes leave the cluster and turn to look at Lloyd instead, making direct eye contact. Even in the darkness, red on green fills his vision. It makes Zelos grin. "Funny, ain't it?" he asks, light, jokey. "If our stars have completely different stories attached, I think I'm kind of afraid to find out just what else is different, now!"